Arrieta-Rolon v. State

Juan Arrieta-Rolon (the “defendant”) appeals his conviction for first-degree murder. He argues that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence, as excited utterances, hearsay statements which a witness gave to a police officer at the scene. We agree with the defendant that the statements were not excited utterances. However, the state has shown beyond a reasonable doubt that the statements, which merely corroborated the witness’s trial testimony, did not affect the verdict. Therefore, we affirm.

The defendant and his girlfriend, Janai-na, were sitting outside of his apartment complex…